Adhesive strip dispenser



Aug.9, 1938. T. R. GAUTIER ADHESIVE STRIP DISPENSER Filed Jan. 2, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet l a o. v 8 a o \.m ce. 5. W w m 6 2 T. a ,a Qa 8 smaak,u

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Aug. 9, 193s. T R GAUTIER 2,126,680

ADHES IVE STRIP DISPENSER '-Filed'Jan. 2, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 PatentedAug. 9, 1938 PATENT OFFICE ADHESIVE STRIP DISPENSER Trevor R. Gautier,Nashua, N. H., assignor `to Nashua Gummed and Coated Paper Company,Nashua, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 2,1937, Serial No. 118,722

6 Claims.

My present invention relates to so-called strip serving or gummed tapedispensing machines and devices, and more particularly to machines ofthat class wherein the tape, supplied in indenite length, is printedwith a series of repeating units or designs presenting labels,advertising matter and the like. The invention aims to provide suchmachine with simplified means to dispense at Will p `one or more of theunit lengths of the tape for accurate severance between adjacent units.

In the drawings illustrating by way of example certain embodiments ofthe invention:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical sectionof a hand-operated strip "serving device;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of the tape guiding andcontrolling means of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3, 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 1 illustrating another embodiment-of theinvention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of the device of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5. i

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and rst to Figs. 1 to 3,the tape dispensing apparatus as there shown comprises a cast metalhousing indicated as a whole by the numeral 'I and having side walls 8and end walls 9. A partition I defines, with the side walls and rear endWall a well for the reception of the tape supply or roll R. The portionof the housing forwardly "of the partition I0 provides a reservoir IIfor the liquid supply. A capillary moistener shown as .a brush I2 isreceived in and projects upwardly from the reservoir in which it isremovably held j `in position as by a further partition I3 apertured `atits lower part as at I4 for the passage of the moistening liquid, and bylateral ribs I on the opposite side walls.

Over the top of the reservoir there is provided a combined cover andtape guiding means, including the main or lower guide plateV I6.illustrated as a substantially at member having horizontal sideportions. Said lower plate is shaped and proportioned for supportingreception on lateral ribs 8a at the inner faces of the housing sidewalls 8, see Fig. 3, and which may be continuous for the length of theplate I5, or otherwise. The supporting ribs Ba are spaced sufficientlybelow the tops of. the side walls to ,u permit the plate to set betweenthe latter and "Y positioned thereby, substantially flush with them.

This lower guide plate I6 may additionally be retained as by means ofthe ears IIa depending from its under face inboard of the ribs 8a. Saidlears are slotted as at Ib, Fig. 1 to receive a cross pin I6c held inbosses II)n on the housing. The guide plate I 6 and associated parts tobe described are thus adapted to be swung up as a unit about the pin I6cas a pivot, and may readily bedetached bodily when desired, by reason ofthe open slot formations IlD of the ears Ilia. The rear portion of theguide plate I6 desirably is turned as at I8 to receive the advancingportion of the tape, and its front` end may be inclined as at I9 toguide the tape to and across the adjacent projecting end of themoistener I2.

The tape or label strip T is adapted to be fed from the roll R forwardlyalong the guide plate I6 for delivery across and in moistening relationwith the moistener. It is additionally guided and aligned by an upperplate or guide 20 having down-turned side portions 2| spacing this upperguide 20 from the lower guide I6 as well as guiding the tape laterally.The two plates or guide members which together provide an enclosingchannel or feed passage for the tape, may be secured to each other as bymeans of ears or the like projections 22 on the one member and receivedin corresponding apertures in the other.

The upper guide 20 has a longitudinal opening 24 which exposes the upperface of the underlying tape, so that an operators finger may be pressedon the tape and drawn forwardly with the latter, to advance it from thesupply. The portion oi' the strip or tape thus advanced beyond the guidemeans and across the moistener may be severed against the front edge 25of the upper plate which serves as a cutter.

The gummed strip or tape T as illustrated in Fig. 2 has on its upperface a series of repeat units or designs t, indicated by the dottedoutlines. In the use of such material it is desirable that it be severedaccurately between such units in lengths of one or more of them, insteadof being cut or torn across the body of a unit. With this end in view Ihave provided means for terminating the tape movement automatically andin such manner that a juncture Zone intermediate two adjacent units tcomes opposite the line of severance as herein dened by the cutting edge25. Accordingly each such intermediate zone is formed with one or morethrough apertures 21, illustrated in this instance as rectangular slotsof substantial extent crosswise of the tape. For cooperation with theseslots in the tape I provide a detent or stop 28 shaped and arranged toenter l on the spring arm 29 has by then been released,

Vpi'edeterminately disposed withl relation vto the any one of theapertures 21 which comes opposite it.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 this detent 28 is in the form of a lipat the fore end of a spring arm 29 which is secured as by riveting atits rear end as at 30 against the under face of the lower guide plateIB, the latter being apertured or recessed as at 28a for passage of thedetent. Said spring arm has an intermediate elevated operating portion3| of a length substantially corresponding to that of the feed opening24 in the top guide plate 20 and located vertically opposite saidopening. The lower guide plate I6 is apertured as at 32, Figs. 1 and 3,for the upward passage of said elevated portion 3|, which normallystands at the level of or slightly above said lower plate I6 but withoutblocking or hindering passage of the tape.

Thus it will be seen that the elevated portion 3| of the spring arm 29is so located that it may readily be depressed by the operator inpressing his finger on the tape exposed at any portion of the feedopening 24, whereupon the stop or detent 28 carried by said spring armis released or depressed into the dotted line position as shown inFig. 1. Forward movement of the operators finger while still pressed onthe tape will then cause the leading edge of the latter to be advancedbeyond the cutter 25, Where it may be grasped and further Withdrawn.Down pressure and as the next perforation or aperture 21 in the tapecomes opposite the stop 28 the latter snaps up through the tape andpositively arrests its further advance. Since the perfoiations are unitst, herein at'the intermediate zones, and the stop 28 is herein adjacentthe severance line 25, accurate severing of the tape between adjacentunits is insured. If one or more additional labels or units of tape arerequired the operatorV has merely to depress the spring arm momentarily,suniciently to release the stop 28, whereupon the tape may be furtherwithdrawn.

It will be noted that the entire guiding and length controlling assemblymay readily be removed from the housing as a unit, without disturbingthe calculated relation of the feed stop and the severing means.

In the modification as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, the housing may bethe same as in the preceding figures, the same reference numeralsindicating corresponding parts. The main elementsof the tape feed andlength controlling assembly may also in general be the same as in theprevious figures, including the lower guide plate I6 and the upper plateor guide 20 spaced above and secured to the under member similarly as inthe first gures. The upper plate as shown is formed with a feed slot 24as previously but the under plate I6 in this instance is notlongitudinally slotted below the tape. As in the previous figures theentire guide assembly may be supported and positioned on inside flanges8a on the walls tions 21 of the tape T located at the desired line ofseverance at the juncture zones between two adjacent label units ordesigns t. In this instance the stop 4U is arranged to be released t0permit advance of the tape independently of the feeding action of theoperators finger at the feed slot 24. Accordingly it is mounted at thefront end of a lever 4| pivotally carried on a pin 42 in ears 43depending from the under plate I6.

The lever 4| is extended rearwardly beyond the pivot 42 and rests uponthe front portion of a second or operating lever 44 pivotally supportedas by a pin 45 held similarly as the pin 42, between ears 46 dependingfrom the plate I6. A suitable leaf or other spring 41 carried by theunder plate I6 presses downwardly on the rear portion of the front lever4|, thereby normally elevating the stop into tape-arresting position,and also raising the rear portion of the rear or operating lever 44. Thelatter is provided with a lateral arm 48, Fig. 5, projecting outwardlythrough a curved slot 49 in the adjacent side wall of the housing, seeFig. 4, and carrying an operating member, finger piece or button 55. Thefinger piece 50 desirably is located, substantially as shown, adjacentthe rear end of the feed slot 24 so that the operator may use one fingerto push down the operating piece or button D, to release the stop 40,and another finger of the same hand substantially simultaneously toadvance the tape by pressing on the latter at the opening 24 and drawingit forwardly.

As in the form of Figs. 1 to 3, the tape may be severed against thefront edge 25 of the upper plate 20 as a cutter. In certain cases,however, a movable blade for severing the tape is desirable, and inFigs, 4 to 6 I have illustrated such movable blade or knife which isspecially constructed and arranged for cooperation with the describedtape feeding and length-controlling assembly. As best seen in Figs. 4and 6 said means comprises a vertically movable blade 5| carried at thefront end of a pair of cutter arms 52 pivotally supported at their rearportions upon upwardly projecting lugs 53 on the housing. A coil spring54 associated with the pivot member 55 for oneV of the cutter arms 52normally holds the cutter element as a whole in a raised position, suchfor example as represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, upward andrearward movement of the cutter being limited in any suitable manner. yAgrip or finger piece 56 may be provided at the front of the cutterwhereby it may quickly be depressed to sever the tape.

The movable blade or knife 5| of the cutter element is so located withrespect to the path of the tape as to sever the tape transversely inline' with the perforations 21 therein, and hence accurately betweenadjacent repeat units or designs t. Thus it is necessary to sever onlythose portions of the tape at each side of the perforations 21.Accordingly the blade 5| comprises spaced cutting edges 5|a, 5|a,desirably somewhat inclined in one or the opposite direction so as tohave a gradual or shear cutting action upon the corresponding portionsof the tape. These cutting edges o1' cutter members proper 5|a arespaced laterally by a recess 5|b proportioned to straddle the stop 40,so as not to interfere with the latter but permitting it to stand inelevated, tape-arresting position throughout a cutting operation.Downward movement of the cutter is limited by the guide plate I6, or byother suitable stop means, and the recess 5|b is of adequa verticalextent so that its top wall stops short of the stop member 40 in thelowest position of the cutter element. formed with a transverse slot|65, inline with the stop 40, for the downward passage of the knife 5l.

While in the illustrated examples I have shown single stop elements forthe tape and corresponding single perforations in the tape, it will beunderstood that a plurality of such members and corresponding formationsor perforations in the tape may be employed, in various arrangements orgroupings both transversely and lengthwise of the tape. The stop elementor elements and the corresponding perforations may be variously shaped,otherwise than as shown.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereofillustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in myfollowing claims.

I claim:

1. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a housingincluding longitudinal side members providing between them a support fora tape supply at their rear portion and a tape delivery station at theirfront portion, a tape guide assembly on the housing, said assemblyincluding lower and upper guide plates providing a channel for passageof the tape from the supply to the delivery station, a feed slot in theupper plate, the tape having perforations distributed along it, amovable stop adapted to enter a perforation of the tape which comesopposite it, thereby to halt movement of the tape, and a spring armmounted on the lower plate and supporting said stop, said lower platehaving a recess centrally in line with the feed slot of the upper platebut of substantially less width than said slot and said spring armhaving a portion normally extending into said recess so as to bedepressed to withdraw the stop from the tape by pressure of theoperators finger through the feed slot of the upper plate in initiatinga feeding action, the lower plate having portions laterally of therecess therein adapted to underlie and support the operators fingerpressed upon the tape to feed it.

2. In a strip serving apparatus, in combination, a frame, a supportthereon for a strip supply, severing means for the strip, guide meansproviding a path for the strip from the supply to the severing means,said strip having perforations predeterminedly distributed along it, astrip stop engageable in any perforation which comes opposite it therebyto halt the tape, a pivoted lever supported by and extending lengthwiseof said guide means, said lever lying below the tape path and carryingsaid stop at one end portion, means yieldably urging said lever intostop presenting position, and means to move said lever to withdraw thestop, said means including an operating button disposed conveniently tothe hand of the operator.

3. In a strip serving apparatus, in combination, a frame, a supportthereon for a strip supply, severing means for the strip, guide meansproviding a path for the strip from the supply to the severing'means,said strip having perforations predeterminedly distributed along it, astrip stop engageable in any perforation which Said under guide plate I6is v comes opposite it thereby to halt the tape, a pivoted lever on saidguide means, said lever underlying the tape path and carrying said stopat one end portion, means yieldably urging said lever into stoppresenting position, a movable member supported on said guide meansseparately from said lever and engageable with it to move the lever towithdraw the stop, and an exposed finger-piece connected to said movablemember for operating it.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with a housingincluding a support for a tape supply and providing a tape deliverystation, tape guide means intermediate the supply support and thedelivery station, the tape being provided with perforations, a stopmember yieldably positoned for reception in a perforation of the tapewhich comes opposite it, and a movable cutter element adapted to cut thetape transversely along the line of a perforation engaged by said stopmember, said element including spaced cutter portions for cooperationwith the tape at the opposite sides of the perforation and stop member.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination with a housingincluding a support for a tape supply and providing a tape deliverystation, tape guide means intermediate the supply support and thedelivery station, the tape being provided with perforations, a stopmember yieldably positioned for reception in a perforation, of the tapewhich comes opposite it, and severing means for`the tape including ablade element movable across the path of the tape in transverse linewith the stop and with a perforation of the tape engaged thereby, saidblade element having a cutting portion constructed and arranged tostraddle the stop.

6. Tape dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a housingincluding longitudinal side members providing between them a support fora tape supply at their rear portion and a tape delivery station at theirfront portion, a plate providing a substantially uninterrupted feedplatform for the tape, adapted to oppose the pressure of the operatorsfinger on the upper face of the tape for advancing the latter along theplatform, means removably positioning said plate on the upper edgeportions of the side members of the housing, overlying guide meanscarried by the plate and forming with it a feed channel having alongitudinal open portion affording access to the upper face of the tapefor said pressing engagement of the operators nger thereon to advance itthrough the feed channel, said platform-providing plate having a portionto underlie and support the operators linger pressed upon the tape tofeed it, the tape having perforations distributed along it, a movablestop having a released position below the tape path, and means carriedby and depending from said platform-providing plate for yieldablypresenting said stop so as automatically to enter it into a perforationof the tape which comes opposite it, said means arranged for manualrelease to withdraw the stop when a length of tape is to be fed.

TREVOR R. GAUTIER.

